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Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

Hmmm. I deleted the other post because I felt like it was kinda personal, but I wanted to make it clear that I didn't delete it because I like staunchly disagree with you guys or something. I know it's dumb. For a long time I was suicidal and so did a lot of stupid things by myself around the 38th st area of Indy at night. Which I know doesn't really make sense, but you're impulsive when you're deeply suicidal (or at least I was), and my instinct was always to head out in that area--partly, I'm sure, because I knew I wouldn't have to face any of my hoity-toity, "I go to a 40k/year school" Butler friends over there. [Everyone always wondered where I was!]

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

Hmmm. I deleted the other post because I felt like it was kinda personal, but I wanted to make it clear that I didn't delete it because I like staunchly disagree with you guys or something. I know it's dumb. For a long time I was suicidal and so did a lot of stupid things by myself around the 38th st area of Indy at night. Which I know doesn't really make sense, but you're impulsive when you're deeply suicidal (or at least I was), and my instinct was always to head out in that area--partly, I'm sure, because I knew I wouldn't have to face any of my hoity-toity, "I go to a 40k/year school" Butler friends over there. [Everyone always wondered where I was!]

What part of 38th were you hanging around? 38th by the Art Museum and the river isn't too bad. I know someone that lives over there and head to that area routinely. There seem to be a lot of students (grad and undergrad) there. I feel safe at the apartment complex, though it can be a big sketch getting there at night. If you go north of that area along Knolton Rd you run into some really nice houses. I've never been to the scare mall area at night and don't plan to. I haven't been to East 38th period as that area is a complete war-zone.

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

What part of 38th were you hanging around? 38th by the Art Museum and the river isn't too bad. I know someone that lives over there and head to that area routinely. There seem to be a lot of students (grad and undergrad) there. I feel safe at the apartment complex, though it can be a big sketch getting there at night. If you go north of that area along Knolton Rd you run into some really nice houses. I've never been to the scare mall area at night and don't plan to. I haven't been to East 38th period as that area is a complete war-zone.

It is? Wow, I'd better quit driving thru there.

If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around..

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

What part of 38th were you hanging around? 38th by the Art Museum and the river isn't too bad. I know someone that lives over there and head to that area routinely. There seem to be a lot of students (grad and undergrad) there. I feel safe at the apartment complex, though it can be a big sketch getting there at night. If you go north of that area along Knolton Rd you run into some really nice houses. I've never been to the scare mall area at night and don't plan to. I haven't been to East 38th period as that area is a complete war-zone.

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

I lived just south of there at 36th and Post. We actually never had problems until about 4 years ago when kids (we assume) kept breaking into our house. We eventually moved to my uncle's house in Noblesville.

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

And you are still alive?!?! You are one of the lucky ones. 38th and post and 42nd and Post - that whole area has gone downhill so much in the past 10 years it is a little scary.

You're right, it is scary. Thank God you made it out OK Pig Nash, and I'm being 100% serious when I say that.

The far east-side has basically turned into a complete hell-hole. The influx of those cheap, vinyl village homes that have turned to Section 8 have expanded the ghetto and completely ruined the area. These are homes that went into foreclosure and were purchased by companies who turn them into Section 8 places by either selling them at extremely cheap prices or by renting them. This attracts a thuggish element and has expanded the ghetto to the far east side, well beyond 465. For many of these people, it's not good enough that they have a roof over their heads for pennies on the dollar. Nope, they want the plasma TV, they want the rims, they want the weed, they want the cash. Thus, good decent people like Pig Nash get terrorized by people breaking into their homes and have to live in fear that it will happen again.

It used to be you could count on being pretty safe anywhere beyond 465. That's not the case anymore. The far east side beyond 465 is without a doubt one of the most dangerous areas in the city and now rivals the eastern part within 465 which has always been bad. Basically the entire East Side is rotten until you get into Hancock county.

Look at the homicides that take place in that area this year and in previous years. There are at least 8-10 a year in the 38th street vicinity beyond 465. So far this year there have been 4 and if this year lives up the precedent set by the prior 4 there will be another 4 or so before the year is out. The area is a pure war-zone. Basically, I wouldn't venture over to the far-east side for anything unless I was on I-70 heading out of town.

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

You're right, it is scary. Thank God you made it out OK Pig Nash, and I'm being 100% serious when I say that.

The far east-side has basically turned into a complete hell-hole. The influx of those cheap, vinyl village homes that have turned to Section 8 have expanded the ghetto and completely ruined the area. These are homes that went into foreclosure and were purchased by companies who turn them into Section 8 places by either selling them at extremely cheap prices or by renting them. This attracts a thuggish element and has expanded the ghetto to the far east side, well beyond 465. For many of these people, it's not good enough that they have a roof over their heads for pennies on the dollar. Nope, they want the plasma TV, they want the rims, they want the weed, they want the cash. Thus, good decent people like Pig Nash get terrorized by people breaking into their homes and have to live in fear that it will happen again.

It used to be you could count on being pretty safe anywhere beyond 465. That's not the case anymore. The far east side beyond 465 is without a doubt one of the most dangerous areas in the city and now rivals the eastern part within 465 which has always been bad. Basically the entire East Side is rotten until you get into Hancock county.

Look at the homicides that take place in that area this year and in previous years. There are at least 8-10 a year in the 38th street vicinity beyond 465. So far this year there have been 4 and if this year lives up the precedent set by the prior 4 there will be another 4 or so before the year is out. The area is a pure war-zone. Basically, I wouldn't venture over to the far-east side for anything unless I was on I-70 heading out of town.

Exactly where I live. One mile into Hancock County. Still very nice neighborhood and Cumberland Police patrol it heavily. I expect a major comeback if they ever get the US 40 project done. (grrr)

Seriously, look at 38th Street all the way east to west. That seem to be the trouble area.

Last edited by indygeezer; 09-01-2010 at 01:02 PM.

If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around..

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

SiG is virtuous because he gives, no matter what. Peck is virtuous because he doesn't just give, but would rather fullfill a direct need that turns out to be a scam.

But again, SiG is virtuous because he just gives them money, no matter what.....

I don't want to pile on SiG, and while I've never personally been through anything like he just confessed, I still feel for him. But at the same time, I wouldn't drive him back down to those parts of the city, because it wouldn't be "good" for him. There are other ways to help, than to just cave into his temporary wants.

Just like an addict. Giving them money to score isn't "helping" anything, eventhough the saying is "it's the thought that counts."

I don't want to sound like a dick, and think that I'm jumping on his back. Not at all. I have friends with a lot of different view points on a lot of different subjects and it doesn't affect our interactions. I wouldn't hesitate to sit down to eat with anyone of you. I can disagree with your opinions, without disagreeing with you personally.

The Following User Says Thank You to Since86 For This Useful Post:

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

I like everyone in this thread (hell I like most everyone at PD) but because we disagree with SIG we are picking on him? Umm, I guess I missed something but only one poster came across harsh, and after he explained his [personal] situation it helped explain why he had such a strong opinion.It is possible to disagree with someone and not be "picking" on them.

As for the whole generosity is a virtue thing, fine. My personally I would rather donate to a organization (and after getting scammed in his by a company that took 60% of donation for "overhead I do a lot of research on companies before I donate) but if you choose other means, then fine.

I will respect the man who donates his old clothes to Salvation Army just as much as I respect the man who donated to panhandlers. Just like I respect the soldier just as much as I donate the man who donates to a panhandler (Actually, that’s a lie. There are only a few heroes in my world, and a good number of them are the men and women serving our country. But that is a topic for another day)

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

I didn't feel like I was being picked on.

And I wouldn't be too quick to praise my compassion either. When I give I almost always try to make sure I get something out of the transaction. Understanding is an asset, but it's not like I can just go up to the guy next to me right now in the cafe and be like, "So, man, what's your story?" "Well, the love of my life divorced me half a year ago, and the only real form of companionship I've had since then has been my epileptic Spinone. Right out of college I was offered a position with what is now the bottled water empire Aquafina, but I turned it down to work in the "family business"--a podunk little antique shoppe. And at night I cry myself to sleep, convinced that I've become a withered shrunken husk of what I should have been. . ."

It turns out that it's incredibly hard to get strangers to talk openly to you when they don't need your money. I once paid $5 to learn a little bit about what it's like to be stuck with an atrophied nubbin of a leg because your abusive husband slammed your spine up against the edge of a filing cabinet. Pretty sure I came out in the black on that one.

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

I just got back from a week in D.C. and if you think we have a homeless problem in Indy, you NEED to go check out the area around D.C.'s Union Station. There is a difference though. The folks in D.C. do not hustle you for money. They might ask for a buck as you pass, but they leave you alone if you refuse and do not loudly follow you down the street, shake a cup in your face, or anything of the like.

The absolute WORST experience I've ever seen with homeless people is Key West Florida though. Due to the awesome climate, they have year round professional street people, complete with a union like pecking order regarding which corner you can stand on and which hours you can "work".

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

I agree with you. If someone is actually homeless and you can tell, my family will always either 1) give them a few dollars or 2) buy them a burger or 2 or something like that. There is a lot of just plain laziness of not wanting to work and a bunch of this disability crap when the people have nothing wrong with them and they just make up ailments, but I'm always for helping out people in need when they really need it and aren't just bluffing. And I'm not pointing out any specific people about the disability comment of mine, I just have a little bit of that going on with some relatives right now and they're just rediculous and it is quite comical about the things they think they can get disability for.

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

Is it wrong that I want to scream and say that I pay taxes which goes to support welfare

I don't know whether it was wrong or not and I don't mean to criticize you.

But paying taxes to support "welfare" doesn't mean anything if the person doesn't qualify for welfare. You probably didn't take the time to find out the guy's situation sufficient to know whether any of the programs you support with your taxes could have helped him.

If you live in Maryland and he was in California, then your taxes didn't contribute to general poor relief because that is a state-based program. If he hasn't been employed, your contributions to the Unemployment Insurance fund can't help him. You've contributed to the federal program for Women, Infants and Children program, but he's a man and can't get any help from that. So, it is quite possible that none of the programs your tax contribution have paid into would do anything for that particular guy.

I'm not even saying that particular fellow deserved any help. All I'm saying is that "I pay taxes" isn't a meaningful reply to a person in need.

(And I, for one, sympathize with you for bearing the Maryland tax burden. I did it, too, for a couple of years.)

And I won't be here to see the dayIt all dries up and blows awayI'd hang around just to seeBut they never had much use for meIn Levelland. (James McMurtry)

The Following User Says Thank You to Putnam For This Useful Post:

Re: Panhandlers, beggars, lazy freakin' people .......

I deleted my own post because I didn't want it to lead the discussion somewhere I didn't want it to lead and, on 2nd reading of my own post, I noted that it could be construed as hangry soapbox material that doesn't belong here on PD.

Thanks Putnam for dropping some knowledge.

Watched The Blind Side last night and know that I'm very priviledged and shouldn't take it for advantage.